Michigan not giving up on QB Russell Bellomy

Russell Bellomy struggled in a game against Nebraska last year, and didn't play the rest of the season. But Michigan isn't giving up on him.Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com

ANN ARBOR -- With Michigan in the heat of a Legends Division title race, Denard Robinson crumpled to the ground at Nebraska. Turns out, his run as a full-time quarterback was over, as were the Wolverines' title chances.

Redshirt freshman backup Russell Bellomy entered the game, misfired on his first 10 passes and finished 3-of-16 with three picks. Michigan never had a shot after Robinson exited, falling 23-9.

Bellomy has since taken a lot of heat for the performance. But while many have written him off, the Wolverines have not.

"I feel like you can't really hold that against him because it's the "Blackshirt" defense, you're getting thrown into the fire -- I feel like any person would have not performed as well as they possible could," senior left tackle Taylor Lewan said.

"I feel like a lot of people are holding that against him, and I don't think that's fair. I feel like he's bounced back from it tremendously, he's throwing the ball well and everything."

Bellomy remains a part of the Wolverines' plans, at least for now. He is getting a long look in spring camp, as the only scholarship quarterback besides presumed starter Devin Gardner.

But highly touted freshman Shane Morris joins the mix this summer, whereupon Michigan will have a decision to make: Who backs up Gardner?

Morris is considered by many to be the future. He's one of the top high school quarterbacks in the country, and the Warren De La Salle product's big left arm is an ideal fit for the pro-style offense.

But do the Wolverines really want to play a true freshman at quarterback? And do they want to burn a season of Morris' eligibility while Gardner has two left?

It would behoove the Wolverines to redshirt Morris if they can. But that's a luxury afforded only if they are comfortable with Bellomy as the backup. They simply can't go one-deep at quarterback the whole season, particularly with Gardner expected to run several times per game.

That's where Bellomy comes in. If he can show this spring he's capable of spelling Gardner, it likely is his job to lose. If he doesn't show that, then Morris may have to play sooner than Michigan would like.

The early returns suggest Bellomy has bounced back, physically and mentally, from his rough 2012. He's added 11 pounds to his 6-foot-3, 213-pound frame, and coach Brady Hoke said he is throwing the ball better than ever.

"Russell’s looked good," he said. "In the no-pads, when you don’t have as many collisions on receivers, he’s thrown the ball well.”

Hoke said he's unsure if the added weight will boost Bellomy's arm strength, which has seemed to be a weakness, although the coach isn't concerned about it.

"He needed to get a little more lean weight and muscle," Hoke said. “I don’t know (if it'll help his arm). Russell hasn’t really had a problem with arm strength. And arm strength isn’t the most important thing. It’s completing balls.